Chapter 9:

The Paranormal Research Club

The Devil I Know

We didn’t talk much on the rest of our return trip. “Trip” may not be the right word, it’s not like it was very long. But it felt long. When we arrived at the classroom it too had calmed considerably. Apart from a few stolen glances at us, and an errant whisper here and there, everything was by all rights quite normal. And yet something still felt subtly off. In all honesty the quiet was starting to bother me. As the day went on it seemed like a silent tension was building. A subtle uneasiness had wormed its way into the air. Even when I tried to strike up conversation during the short breaks between our classes Evi appeared a tad sullen.

Withdrawn.

Eventually the day finished and we all rose from our seats to begin cleaning the classroom. Some were slow to action, lounging in their chairs or engaging in idle conversation, others were eager to finish things soon so they could head off to clubs, or home, or cram school. Okay, well actually no, the cram school kids probably weren’t very eager to leave.

Once a space had cleared up, I headed to the storage closet to grab a broom and dustpan. I held them up in front of Evi.

“Any preference?”

She took the dustpan.

I began to sweep.

We did this for a while, operating in mute cooperation amidst the low din of classroom chattering. Punctuated, of course, by the intermittent squeaks and dull taps of cleaning implements against walls, windows, floors and chalkboards. All to get this place as clean as possible. Or more accurately, just clean enough to fit the standards of a room full of minimally motivated students. That’s not a judgment by the way; after all, I’m one of them. I would usually be among the first students out the door, but for once I had a reason to stick things out. The club. Though I was skeptical, and the longer I stayed put here the less convinced I became of its existence.

A few of our fellow students dawdled, hovering nearby. Apparently curious about us, but unsure of how to approach, they eventually trickled out of the room.

Except for one of them.

Fujiwara-san hesitated at the door. She’d peeked over at the two of us once or twice while talking with Takahara-san, and though they usually walked out together, this time she waved him goodbye as he left before her. The two of them hadn’t always been so close, but sometime during middle school they really connected I guess. And while it’s true that they weren’t now joined at the hip, it was still surprising to see them separate like this. Honestly, the fact that their social dynamic was so obvious that even I had noticed it should say more than enough. I’m not exactly well informed on the general gossip of any given day.

You’d think I would know them better considering how long we’d been in the same class. Not just here, but in middle school and elementary school too.

I didn’t.

Like basically everyone I’d known back then, I didn’t actually know them, having treated them more like landmines to be avoided than people to interact with. Still, from what I could remember Fujiwara-san was never mean to me directly. So that was good.

And now we were here. Her, and Evi, and me.

She had a soft face and long dark hair that parted gently to frame it, falling into low pigtails of surprising volume which were wrapped up neatly by purple hair ties. Her open blazer revealed a white button-down shirt and a black tie that she was currently fiddling with. She seemed slightly nervous.

“…”

Evi looked at me, then at her, then back to me. She sighed, and rose up from the floor to hand me the dustpan. I moved quickly to take both it and the broom back over to the supply closet, glad to have an excuse to duck out for a moment. I stood with my back to them, purposefully fumbling with the doors to gain a bit more time to compose myself. Keeping an ear tuned in so I wouldn’t miss anything important.

“Okay. Who are you and what do you want?” asked Evi.

“Oh. Um. My name is Ayano Fujiwara. Welcome to the class, by the way,” trepidation leaked into her voice. “I don’t want anything from you.”

“Then why were you staring at us and not saying anything?”

“I’m just… waiting. Is all.”

“For what?” an ounce of menace dripped off the question.

“Hi!” a new voice. Wait, no, I recognized this.

I turned around to see Akira Kusumoto bound into the room and latch onto Fujiwara-san’s arm.

“Yaya-chan!”

“Hey Aki-chan, what’s up?” she greeted her with a bemused expression, and then gave us a half shrug.

“Eh, not much,” she replied, feigning boredom whilst she freed up her arms to lift them in an exaggerated shrug. “Just,” she wheeled around excitedly, “two new members for our club!” She held her arms out as though she were presenting the biggest prize on a game show.

“I’m leaving.” Evi spoke without a hint of hesitation, immediately walking forward to retrieve her bag.

“Wait, wait, no please! It’s cool, I promise,” Kusumoto-san looked over at me, “Ri-chan was interested, at least here us out.”

“…Ri-chan?” I murmured.

“Well, your names are Rin-chan and Evi-chan, right? So I was thinking Ri-chan and E-chan. I know you already have a nickname Ghost, but I figured if we’re going to be friends it’d be nice to have something more personal,” she beamed.

“…Friends?” I repeated.

“Yeah! Is there an echo in here or what?” she nudged Fujiwara-san, who for a moment seemed like she was about to say something, but decided against it.

“If you want to be her friend, why are you calling her Ghost? Rin doesn’t like that name,” Evi spoke without looking at us. “And why would you call me a Devil? That’s just an actual insult.”

“Those are both cool things though? Ghosts, devils, demons, witches, the slit-mouthed woman, yuki-onna, Bigfoot, aliens, the list goes on. These are all cool things! We’re the Paranormal Research Club! Why wouldn’t we like this stuff?” She turned to me. “Ri-chan, did you not tell her what the club was about?”

“I, uh, I-I…um.”

I was not handling this well.

Thankfully Fujiwara-san took notice.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, relax,” she tried to reassure me. Tugging at her hair, she continued, “It’s not like this is an official club anyways.”

“?” I stared at them quizzically, but Evi was already heading for the door.

“See? They’re not even a real club. Let’s go. Bye.”

“Wait!” shouted Kusumoto-san, “My apologies!” She bowed. “I am sincerely sorry for what I have called the two of you today, and would like to make amends in whatever way possible!” She waved at Fujiwara-san to bow as well. “If you both join me and Yaya-chan, then we’ll finally have enough members to form a real club! Please help us!”

Fujiwara-san did not bow, but she did speak.

“It would mean a lot to Aki-chan if this group became official. And also…” she looked at me, “I’m sorry Miyashita-san.” She glanced down, and then continued.

“Miyashita-san… we’ve known each other for a long time now. Right?”

I nodded.

“Back then, we never really talked. Honestly, despite being in the same class for so long, when I found out we’d be at the same high school too, I wasn’t sure you would even recognize me… Did you?”

I nodded.

“Oh. Well,” she smiled sadly. “I recognized you too. Obviously.”

“I always felt bad that…uh, I always regretted that… Um. I knew you were being bullied… and I didn’t do anything to help. I didn’t reach out to you back then, and I could have. But I didn’t. Even now, it’s been over a month at this new school and this is my first real time talking to you. I might not deserve it but… I’m sorry. I truly am.” She bowed. “I would really like it if we could be friends.”

There was a mass of pressure welling up inside my chest.

“I-I would like that too.”

I was close to tears.

“Thank you, Fujiwara-san.”

Evi stood slouched by the door.

“So… do you want to join?” Evi asked me.

“…Mhmm.” I nodded in affirmation.

“Paranormal Research Club? You’re serious?”

“Very serious!” announced Kusumoto-san as she sprung back to a standing position.

Rising up, Fujiwara-san pulled out her phone.

“Aki-chan texted me during break to stay after class. Didn’t tell me what it was for though,” she smiled politely. “I’m mostly here as a friend.”

“And as my friend she’s totally willing to start this club with us!”